"CHANTICO", THE AZTEC GODDESS OF PLEASURE AND PAIN, IS ONE OF YOUR CLASSICAL MESOAMERICAN GODDESSES; SHE ALSO PERSONIFIES AND SAFEGUARDS THE FIRES IN THE FAMILY HEARTH AND VOLCANOES. IT IS SAID THAT MEN WHO WERE GOING INTO BATTLE, PRAYED TO HER FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN BEFORE THE FIRES WENT OUT. HER NAME MEANS "IN THE HOUSE", AND SHE BLESSES THE HOME WITH WEALTH AND STABILITY AND RULES OVER MATERIAL ABUNDANCE AND PRECIOUS THINGS.

TO THE INCA, SHE WAS THE GODDESS OF THE EARTH'S MINERALS AND PRECIOUS STONES. IN HER EARLIER ROLE, SHE WAS CONSIDERED A RATHER FICKLE AND UNTRUSTWORTHY GODDESS, AND LEGENDS TELL THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO SOUGHT AFTER THE TREASURES OF THE EARTH WOULD OFTEN FACE DEATH IN THE FORM OF HER SERPENT TONGUE OF FIRE OR THE POISONOUS CACTUS AROUND HER CROWN RATHER THAN THE RICHES THEY WERE AFTER.

SHE CARRIES THE BALANCE OF HAPPINESS AND SORROW...PLEASURE AND PAIN. CHANTICO REPRESENTS THE DUALITY OF LIFE, THE EARTH, AND THE PEOPLE. SHE IS A FREE SPIRIT. HER FEMININITY AND SENSUAL ASPECTS...ALONG WITH HER ASSOCIATION WITH PLEASURE AND PAIN HAS LEAD TO HER WORSHIP BY THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN SM SEXUAL PRACTICES.

ONE DAY, CHANTICO, ALWAYS A BIT ON THE MISCHIEVOUS SIDE, ANGERED THE FOOD GOD BY EATING ROASTED FISH WITH PAPRIKA ON A FAST DAY WHEN THE SPICE WAS BANNED. TO SHOW HIS DISPLEASURE, HE TURNED HER INTO A DOG.